Informational Meetings Will Explain Community Gardening

Blogger's Note: The following is a press release from the Mosaic Community Land Trust

Have you ever wanted to have your own garden, but didn’t have enough room in your yard? Would you like your children to learn how to grow their own fresh vegetables, but don’t know where to begin?

This spring MOSAIC Community Land Trust is building Pottstown’s first community garden at 423 Chestnut St. 

They will be holding three information sessions during the month of February to explain what community gardens are all about and to take applications for approximately 40 raised bed garden plots for the 2012 season. 

In addition to the garden plots, there will be compost bins, rain barrels, pavers, fencing, trellis, perennial gardens, a storage shed, and water service for irrigation.

The MOSAIC Community Garden is being built with a $30,000 grant from the Pottstown Area Health and Wellness Foundation. 

The property at 423 Chestnut St. was donated by the Pottstown School District last spring, and other major donors and volunteers include Genesis Housing/Susquehanna Bank, Lowes, Davey Tree Experts, Andrew Monastra, Esq., the Borough of Pottstown, Montgomery County Workforce Development, and many other individuals and volunteers.

According to the American Community Gardening Association, a community garden is “any piece of land gardened by a group of people.” Typically, community gardens transform vacant lots into beautiful and positive community gathering places. 

While fresh, organic food is typically more expensive and out of the financial reach for many people, the cost to grow and harvest one’s own food is significantly less. Residents pay a small annual fee to lease their plot and actively cultivate it throughout the entire growing season. 

MOSAIC plans to provide educational workshops for new and experienced gardeners. Individuals, families, community organizations, youth groups, and local restaurants are all welcome to apply for a plot.

The information sessions will be held at the following times and locations in Pottstown:

• Tuesday, Feb. 14 from 7-8 p.m. at the Ricketts Community Center, 640 Beech St.

• Tuesday, Feb. 21 from 7-8 p.m. at MOSAIC’s office, 10 S. Hanover St.

• Saturday, Feb. 25 from 2-3 p.m. at Victory Christian Life Center, 28-30 N. Washington St.

Applications will be available at the meetings and can be dropped off at any of the above locations or mailed to MOSAIC Community Land Trust by March 1. 

In the event that there are more applications than garden plots, a public lottery will be held at MOSAIC’s offices on Sunday, March 11 at 2 p.m. 

For more information, contact Sue Repko, MOSAIC Executive Director, at 609-658-9043 or srepko@mosaiccommunitylandtrust.org.